4 Tasmanian road trip itineraries for families

Incredible natural adventures await when you hit the road in the Apple Isle. The whole family will love these road trips around Tasmania.

These family-friendly Tasmanian road trips are the best way to discover Tassie’s stunning coastline, historic towns and untamed wilderness. We recommend a minimum of seven days for a Tasmanian road trip. Don’t let the small size fool you, you could spend two months here and still not see everything.

Our popular Tasmania road trip itinerary has 9 unmissable stops for families. This itinerary covers the coastline all around Tasmania. Starts from the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal, down the East Coast and Freycinet National Park and into the wilderness of Tassie’s West Coast.

Hot Tip: TasVillas Group is Tasmania’s largest accommodation group, offering accommodation all around Tasmania. A one-stop shop for Tasmanian holidays; booking accommodation, car hire, Spirit of Tasmania, tours and attractions. Guests have the flexibility of choosing from a variety of accommodation styles, including self-contained apartments, hotels and motel-style accommodation. TasVillas specialise in touring and self-drive packages, and their local staff provide expert knowledge and advice. Visit tasvillas.com or call 1800 030 111.

Great Eastern Drive Tasmanian road trip

Travel time: 5 days

A blindingly beautiful coastline, thriving food and wine scene and dozens of charming historic towns. Tassie’s east coast somehow remains bewilderingly crowd-free. Here, the air is fresh, the sapphire-blue bays are empty and the seafood is finger-licking good. You’ll discover so many beautiful crowd-free beaches to stop in at. There’s lots of fresh seafood to be eaten with honourable mention going to the Lobster Shack in Bicheno.

Start by heading north on the Tasman Highway and after roughly 40 minutes stop at quaint Kate’s Berry Farm in Swansea, where the kids can indulge in berry ice cream from the on-site farm, then walk it off around Loontitetermairrelehoiner, a 2.3-kilometre circuit that starts in the centre of town and takes in the site of Swansea’s first European settlement in 1827.

From here, it’s roughly a 50 minute drive to Freycinet National Park, where you’ll find dramatic pink granite peaks, secluded bays and white sandy beaches. Wineglass Bay, is a must-visit, a curved bay surrounded by mountains – home to one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks. You will need to allow about 90 minutes for little legs to make the 2.6-kilometre return walk to the lookout platform for jaw-dropping bay views. Call in at Freycinet Marine Farm, just outside nearby Coles Bay to enjoy the best fresh local seafood. And should time permit, take a tour of the farm with Oyster Bay Tours, to harvest, shuck and eat oysters straight from the sea.

Ninety minutes drive north and you’re in St Helens – the perfect base to explore the Bay of Fires. For family-friendly accommodation here, check out Georges Bay Apartments and Queechy Motel.

The route: The 220-kilometre Great Eastern Drive starts at Orford, and if you drive roughly 30 minutes past the official end point of St Helens, you’ll be able to take in the Bay of Fires, famed for its ochre-coloured granite rocks and azure ocean.

Don’t miss: Walking among wombats while exploring the kaleidoscope cliffs of Maria Island. If you want to extend, check out Port Arthur.

Western Explorer Tasmanian road trip

Travel time: 2-4 days

You just know a thoroughfare that has been dubbed ‘The Road to Nowhere’ is going to be nothing short of phenomenal.

Tasmania’s west coast is full of incredibly lush green rainforest. It is one of the least explored areas of Tasmania due to its winding roads and off-the-beaten-track tourist attractions.

The Western Explorer might be Tasmania’s best-kept secret. This Aussie road trip winds through the lush Tarkine rainforest in the northwest of the state. And, more often than not, your journey is enjoyed without another vehicle in sight.

The route: The spectacularly wild 283 kilometres that connect Strahan and Stanley pass through Arthur River, fishing settlements like Couta Rocks and Temma, and the gold-rush town of Corinna, hidden deep in the woods.

Don’t miss: The ferry trip across Pieman River on the Fatman barge, walking through the Zeehan Spray Tunnel (a 100-metre abandoned railway) and sandboarding the lofty Henty Dunes, rising 30 metres behind Tasmania’s longest beach.

Driving tip: Watch out for wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for elusive platypuses, echidnas, wombats, bandicoots and quolls. Fun fact: this part of Tassie was the last known habitat of the Tasmanian tiger.

Where to stay: Located in the Arthur-Pieman Conservation Area, Peppermint and Manuka campgrounds both offer water access and toilets.

Hobart and surrounds

Hobart, Bruny Island, Huon Valley and Cockle Creek.

Travel time: 5 days

Culture, wilderness and a hearty taste of Tassie are all on the cards with a road trip around the island’s south. Start in Hobart, and if you’re there on a Saturday, don’t miss the Salamanca Market which has around 300 stallholders offering everything from fine art to food. Head up to Kunanyi/Mount Wellington for stunning views across the city. Then catch the ferry to Mona – Australia’s largest privately owned museum and art gallery.

Make the less than two-hour drive (via ferry) to Bruny Island. Climb the stairs for 360-degree views from The Neck Lookout and afterwards jump aboard Bruny Island Cruises to take in the dramatic shoreline. And then there’s the food. Get Shucked Oyster Farm has the world’s first oyster drive-through window. Bruny Island Cheese and Beer Co is a must for a cheese fix, and those with a sweet tooth can’t miss Bruny Island Chocolate.

Then make the roughly two-hour and 45-minute drive to Tahune Adventures in the Huon Valley. The heart will be pumping after the Tahune Airwalk, suspended 30 metres above the forest floor. To get the adrenalin pumping a bit more, take an exhilarating spin along the Huon River in jet boats with Huon Jet. Last stop is Cockle Creek, on the edge of the vast Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage-listed area. This is the perfect base to take a hike along South Cape Bay and emerge atop coastal cliffs peering out to South East Cape (Tasmania’s southernmost point). The perfect way to say farewell to your Southern exploration.

Read: The best things to do in Hobart with kids

Tasmania’s North Coast

Launceston, Tamar Valley, Penguin and Cape Grim

Travel time: 5 days

Launceston has been named a ‘City of Gastronomy’ for good reason, but it’s not all flashy restaurants. The kids will love the farm gates and markets, cooking classes, cafes and the chance to get out with truffle dogs as they snuffle for French black truffles among the hazel trees. For a one-stop-shop introduction to some of the incredible farmers and growers in the region, start with the Saturday morning Harvest Market Launceston. Expect to leave with baskets heaving with artisan bread, pastries, honey, nuts, sausage, berries, and cherries.

After a few days exploring Launceston, jump in the car, for the 30-minute drive to the Tamar Valley. The region may be known for wine, but there’s plenty for the kids too. Start at the Tamar Island Wetlands Centre and Reserve, where a 500-metre boardwalk leads you through estuarine wetlands, home to about 60 bird species. Then head to working seahorse farm, Seahorse World, where the kids can marvel at thousands of seahorses. So parents can enjoy some of the famed wine in the region.

A roughly 80-minute drive and you’ll be in the coastal town of Penguin where you can walk the Penguin Heritage Trail to 26 historic sites. And for a little more adventure, hire bikes to explore the six-kilometre Penguin Mountain Bike Park. For some more laid-back coastal vibes, drive a little further north to Burnie, home to The Little Penguin Observation Centre where, from September through March, you can watch the world’s smallest penguins swim back to their beachside homes.

End your road trip at Cape Grim – the most northwest point of Tasmania. This wildly remote location will blow you away – literally. It’s windy, but it’s said to be the cleanest air on Earth. Take a tour of the wind farms, and dine on some of the region’s famed beef. After all, immersing the family in nature and fantastic food is what Tassie is all about.

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Lead image: Cradle Mountain © Cultivate Productions/Tourism Tasmania

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